Killer Nashville John Seigenthaler Legends Award

“The John Seigenthaler Award is not about what you write; it’s about making it right for writers.” – Clay Stafford, Founder of Killer Nashville

The annual Killer Nashville John Seigenthaler Legends Award™ is bestowed upon an individual within the publishing industry who, like its namesake, has devoted his or her life to championing First Amendment Rights, advocating for social change, equality, and fairness, or otherwise defending issues of freedom. Recipients of this award have displayed a steadfast commitment to these ideals, and to mentoring the next generation of authors. This is not a lifetime achievement award, as we expect much more of these individuals in years to come.

Max Allan Collins is the recipient of the 2017 Killer Nashville John Seigenthaler Legends Award. He has earned an unprecedented twenty-two Private Eye Writers of America “Shamus” nominations, winning twice for best novel and once for best short story. In 2007 he received the Eye, the PWA life achievement award, and in 2012 his Nathan Heller saga was honored with the PWA “Hammer” award for its major contribution to the private eye genre.

His graphic novel Road to Perdition (1998), illustrated by Richard Piers Rayner, became the Academy Award-winning Tom Hanks film, and his innovative “Quarry” novels is the basis of a current Cinemax TV series. He has completed a number of “Mike Hammer” novels begun by the late Mickey Spillane, most recently A Will to Kill, and his full-cast Hammer audio novel, The Little Death (with Stacy Keach), won a 2011 Audie.

Collins has written and directed four feature films, including the Lifetime movie “Mommy” (1996), as well as two documentaries, including “Mike Hammer’s Mickey Spillane” (1998), which appears on the Criterion Collection’s “Kiss Me Deadly.” His many comics credits include the syndicated strip “Dick Tracy”; “Batman”; and “Ms. Tree” and “Wild Dog,” co-created with artist Terry Beatty. His movie novels include Saving Private Ryan, Air Force One, and American Gangster (IAMTW Best Novel “Scribe” Award, 2008).

Collins lives in Muscatine, Iowa, with his wife, writer Barbara Collins; as “Barbara Allan,” they have collaborated on thirteen novels, notably the successful “Trash ‘n’ Treasures” mysteries, including Antiques Flee Market (2008) winner of the Romantic Times Best Humorous Mystery Novel award in 2009. Their son Nathan is a Japanese-to-English translator, working on video games, manga and novels.

Previous Award Winners

Robert J. Randisi is the recipient of the 2016 Killer Nashville John Seigenthaler Legends Award. An exceptionally prolific author—he has written over 650 novels in the western, mystery, sci-fi, horror, and spy genres, under different pseudonyms—Randisi’s dedication to the craft is rivaled only by his passion for advocating, encouraging, and featuring other genre writers. He…

Killer Nashville is proud to announce the 2015 Killer Nashville John Seigenthaler Legends Award winner is New York Times bestselling author and legendary criminal prosecutor Robert K. Tanenbaum. He will be honored at this year’s Killer Nashville Writers’ Conference October 31 at the Omni Nashville Hotel. Tanenbaum shares with John Seigenthaler an equally distinguished career…

The inaugural recipient of The John Seigenthaler Legends Award in 2014 is the author of over 120 books, both fiction and nonfiction, including some wonderful investigative nonfiction. He is a man who has survived publishing, a man who has changed publishing, a man who is a fighter, an incredible mentor, a brilliant mind, and someone…

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Publisher’s Weekly

Publishers Weekly has named Killer Nashville and its founder Clay Stafford as playing "an essential role in defining which books become bestsellers" throughout "the nation's book culture." (PW 6/10/13)

2014-09-17T12:38:03+00:00

Publishers Weekly has named Killer Nashville and its founder Clay Stafford as playing "an essential role in defining which books become bestsellers" throughout "the nation's book culture." (PW 6/10/13)

https://killernashville.com/testimonials/publishers-weekly-2/

Jessie Bishop Powell

"To me, writing success means recognition by a traditional press in the form of a contract to publish a physical book with real pages and an authentic cover. Killer Nashville, Five Star Publishing, and Deni Dietz made all of those things possible for me." - Jessie Bishop Powell, The Marriage at the Rue Morgue

2014-09-17T12:39:40+00:00

"To me, writing success means recognition by a traditional press in the form of a contract to publish a physical book with real pages and an authentic cover. Killer Nashville, Five Star Publishing, and Deni Dietz made all of those things possible for me." - Jessie Bishop Powell, The Marriage at the Rue Morgue

https://killernashville.com/testimonials/jessie-bishop-powell/

David Burnsworth

"Whether you are only thinking about writing, in the middle of eighty-thousand words, or feel you’re ready for publication, Killer Nashville is the event for you.” - David Burnsworth, Southern Heat

2014-09-17T12:40:56+00:00

"Whether you are only thinking about writing, in the middle of eighty-thousand words, or feel you’re ready for publication, Killer Nashville is the event for you.” - David Burnsworth, Southern Heat

https://killernashville.com/testimonials/david-burnsworth/

Rosalyn Rikel

"I decided to pitch [my manuscript] at the Killer Nashville conference in 2011. Deni Deitz from Five Star Publishing was the person who ‘caught my pitch,’ challenged me to let her see the full manuscript, and later decided to publish Millicent’s Tower. Thanks to Deni and Five Star, I am now taking pleasure in sharing my book and my story — plus the excitement of writing another one! Stay tuned!!!” - Rosalyn Rikel, Millicent’s Tower

2014-09-17T12:44:54+00:00

"I decided to pitch [my manuscript] at the Killer Nashville conference in 2011. Deni Deitz from Five Star Publishing was the person who ‘caught my pitch,’ challenged me to let her see the full manuscript, and later decided to publish Millicent’s Tower. Thanks to Deni and Five Star, I am now taking pleasure in sharing my book and my story — plus the excitement of writing another one! Stay tuned!!!” - Rosalyn Rikel, Millicent’s Tower

https://killernashville.com/testimonials/rosalyn-rikel/

Mark Troy

“Persistence pays off. So does the feedback from the Claymore judges, the agents and editors at Killer Nashville, and the contacts with the other writers. I was delighted whenThe Law of the Splintered Paddle was named the second runner up and even more delighted when, after another revision, Five Star Mysteries offered to publish it." - Mark Troy, The Splintered Paddle

2014-09-17T12:46:40+00:00

“Persistence pays off. So does the feedback from the Claymore judges, the agents and editors at Killer Nashville, and the contacts with the other writers. I was delighted whenThe Law of the Splintered Paddle was named the second runner up and even more delighted when, after another revision, Five Star Mysteries offered to publish it." - Mark Troy, The Splintered Paddle

https://killernashville.com/testimonials/mark-troy/

Judy Dailey

“Killer Nashville was a wonderful experience. Because of Killer Nashville, I now have a contract with Five Star Publishing for my cozy, Animal, Vegetable, Murder. I couldn’t be happier.” - Judy Dailey, Animal, Vegetable, Murder

2014-09-17T12:47:54+00:00

“Killer Nashville was a wonderful experience. Because of Killer Nashville, I now have a contract with Five Star Publishing for my cozy, Animal, Vegetable, Murder. I couldn’t be happier.” - Judy Dailey, Animal, Vegetable, Murder

https://killernashville.com/testimonials/judy-dailey/

Steven Cooper

"Killer Nashville provides authors wonderful opportunities to advance up the literary ladder. I am flattered by the recognition and grateful to Killer Nashville for giving my work a forum." - Steven Cooper, Desert Remains

2014-09-17T12:50:21+00:00

"Killer Nashville provides authors wonderful opportunities to advance up the literary ladder. I am flattered by the recognition and grateful to Killer Nashville for giving my work a forum." - Steven Cooper, Desert Remains

https://killernashville.com/testimonials/steven-cooper/

Ross Cavins

"Killer Nashville is one of the best writing conferences in the nation, and to be a finalist in its companion award competition is of the highest honor." - Ross Cavins, Barry Versus the Apocalypse

2014-09-17T12:53:03+00:00

"Killer Nashville is one of the best writing conferences in the nation, and to be a finalist in its companion award competition is of the highest honor." - Ross Cavins, Barry Versus the Apocalypse